Urban Education Grants Impact KC Classrooms
By Ginny Miller
UMKC School of Education is pleased to share the impact of two of this year's Joan and Bert Berkley Excellence in Urban Education grants among our nine partner school districts and charter schools. Projects demonstrate academic rigor with a focus on standards, engage students in college and career planning, relate to students’ needs and interests and intend to be replicated at other urban schools. Below is a brief summary of two site visits conducted by Dr. Ginny Miller, Assistant Dean, to evaluate the progress of the grants.
Impact on High School Science Instruction
Paul Kehmeier, science teacher at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in the Kansas City Missouri School District, knew that he wanted his FIRST Robotics team to have plenty of practice since the team was scheduled to compete in February against more experienced teams and was ready to take the next step in developing its engineering skills. To get more practice time, Mr. Kehmeier requested funds for the purchase of tools and materials for the “preseason,” a couple of months before the official start of the annual regional competition.
Paseo’s team, the “Paseliens,” has the same challenge in the competition as all other FIRST Robotics teams. The challenge is called “Lunacy” and requires competing robotic teams to lob “orbit balls” into trailers to earn various point totals. The students from Paseo have spent long hours, including time on weekends, to learn about circuits and pneumatics and have teamed with employees from the Midwest Research Institute to hone their engineering skills.
Mr. Kehmeier states that, “this year our competition robot has the most sophisticated drive train we’ve ever constructed. We were able to succeed with the drive train because during the preseason months we used the funds to build and test the system. It makes one smooth moving robot! The kids are excited to set the robot into the competition arena and put it through its paces.”
The “Paseliens” participate as part of a larger national FIRST Robotics initiative that incorporates 1,680 teams and approximately 42,000 students. To share its 2009 robot, the Paseo team is holding an open house on Monday, February 16, from 3 – 5 pm at the Midwest Research Institute Mag Auditorium, 425 Volker Boulevard.
Impact on High School Communication Arts Instruction
Amy Cameron, English teacher at the Main Street Academy in the Grandview School District, hoped to give her students the opportunity to develop their individual “voices” by using video cameras and editing software to create documentaries. Using this grant, she prepared her students to become film makers: to develop interview questions, conduct interviews, research and film subjects, and create a finished product that tells a story.
One of the extra benefits of the video project was to bring Ms. Cameron together with two of her colleagues to make it an interdisciplinary effort. Student films focused on topics such as diversity, heroes, the history of Grandview, among others.
“The students took this project and just ran with it,” Cameron states. “They felt special because they had access to individual cameras and they learned what ‘perspective’ is, and how to enhance the telling of a story through the use of images and music. It freed our students in many ways, because we did not censor the creative process. I believe this has opened doors for many of them; they learned how to apply talents they have acquired through their technological savvy.”
Among the student videographers with whom Ms. Cameron worked was one student who had contemplated dropping out of the alternative program at the Main Street Academy. He could see no future for himself and thought that school was a waste of time. His parents were desperate for him to find something meaningful at school. During the video project, he found that “something” and began to be excited about a future in the world of videography. His current plans are to finish the Main Street program and go on to film making school.
Other New Projects Established in 2008 – 2009 through the Berkley Grants
- Center, Suzanne Melena Urban Gardening to Practice Skills
- Hickman Mills, Michele Pippens Engaging Children in Play Therapy
- Independence, Pam Diecidue Simulating Spanish Language Environments to Build Real-world Spanish Speaking Skills
- Kansas City, Kansas, Adrianne Miller “Benchmark Blaster Camp”
- North Kansas City, Andrew Schuerman Addressing Bullying through Project Unity
- Raytown, Beth Dusin Using Bibliotherapy to Help Students through Difficult Times
- Turner, Nancy Nash Building “The Bear Mart”
- University Academy (Charter), Danielle Farr Building a Greenhouse as an Outdoor Laboratory